396 



GYMNOSPERMS 



THE OVULATE STROBILUS 



The ovulate strobili, like the staminate, are borne in considerable 

 numbers on branching flower stalks (fig. 373). The young strobili 

 arc green, but, at maturity, the color changes to a brilliant red — as 

 brilliant as that of the Christmas Poinscltia. 



Tig. 372. — Wclwiischia mirahilis: floral development: A, longitudinal section of tip 

 of staminate cone; li, bract with young flower in its axil; t'-G, older stages; b, bract; p, 

 perianth; o, ovule; /, inner integument; </, staminal disk; a, anther; s, "stigma"; ;;, nec- 

 tary-like swelling of staminal disk; all X50. 



While the strobilus is compound, its component strobili are much 

 simpler than those of the male, for there is no trace of a bisporangiate 

 condition. 



A few of the lower bracts have no flowers in their axils, and the 

 flowers in the axils of a few of the upper ones do not mature. Each 



